How Vaccines Work

When I mention my background in infectious disease research, I often get asked about vaccines. Often enough that I’ve come to realise that while nearly all of us have received more than a few vaccines throughout our lives, very few of us have more than a vague idea of what they are and how they work.

 

I shouldn’t have been surprised. For as long as I can remember, public conversations about vaccines have generated more heat than light. Many of the people who understand vaccines spend their efforts on countering misinformation, which is valuable and important but it leaves too many people making decisions without access to the basic facts.

 

That’s why I sat down to write How Vaccines Work. I wanted to explain the principles underlying vaccination, which are not that complicated. I also wanted to tell the stories of the many scientists who have applied those principles to develop and test working vaccines, which can be very complicated. Above all, I wanted to do it in a way that makes sense to someone with no scientific background and – I dare to hope – entertaining to read.

 

My co-writer, the cat of mysterious origin, hope’s you find it entertaining as well.

 

• How Vaccines Work is available in paperback, digital or audio versions from Amazon though unfortunately, it’s not in Amazon’s USA store at the moment.

• If you’d rather support Britain’s independent bookshops, the paperback is available from Bookshop.org.

• A complete list of retailers is available through Piatkus, the imprint of Little, Brown that published it.